Sunday Showcase: Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics: Empowering Women One Quilt at a Time

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Cleveland-Hendricks Crazy Quilt, Maker Unknown, 1885-1900. Gift of Margaret Cavigga, Item number 1985.23.3, American Folk Museum, New York, NY

Medallion Style Political Quilt, Maker Unknown, Photo: Geoffrey Carr. Formerly in the collection of Shelly Zegart.

Housetop Variation Louisiana P. Bendolph, 2004. From Gee's Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt, Paul Arnett, Tinwood Books, 2006. Courtesy Matt Arnett. Photo by Pitkin Studio.

Executive Producer Shelly Zegart

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Sunday Showcase

Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics: Empowering Women One Quilt at a Time
Produced by Shelly Zegart

Sunday, May 22, 12:30 pm Cinema +

Free

This episode from the nine-part PBS series Why Quilts Matter, focuses on the historical and contemporary roles of quilts as an avenue of personal express, a sly medium of social and political opinion, and a building block of financial security. Unique among objects, quilts can be seen as utilitarian objects and high art. They are something made from humble resources and can be nurturing as well as inspiring. This documentary invites quiltmakers, curators, and scholars to share the number of ways quilts continue to be woven into history. 2011, U.S., video, 27 minutes. Recommended for 12+.

Cinema + With a post-screening discussion with Why Quilts Matter Executive Producer Shelly Zegart who is also an internationally recognized author, curator, collector, and lecturer of the topic of American quilts and Scott Erbes, Speed Art Museum Curator of Decorative Arts and Design.

This program is presented in conjunction with the current Speed exhibitions Sanford Biggers: Codeswitch and Pictures from Pieces—Quilts from the Eleanor Bingham Miller Collection.